Dons Bounce Back from First Loss with Shut out Win over Saddleback

Lindsey Esparza delivers a pitch in the Dons shutout victory over Saddleback College. Esparza improved to 5-0 on the season with the win. (Photo courtesy of Tony McAndrew)
Lindsey Esparza delivers a pitch in the Dons shutout victory over Saddleback College. Esparza improved to 5-0 on the season with the win. (Photo courtesy of Tony McAndrew)

SANTA ANA - With the aid of two errors and a combined effort on the mound from Lindsey Esparza and Frances Campoy, the Dons shut out Saddleback College 5-0 to improve to 11-1 on the season. The win also ups the Dons conference record to 2-1 while Saddleback drops to 8-5 overall and 1-2 in conference.

The Dons scored their first run of the game in the first inning when Sabrina Perez extended the play on a single, forcing a Gaucho error that allowed Emily Whitecavage to score from second base. The next two runs for SAC came in the third inning when Keila Tenorio doubled in Danielle Hernandez and Alyssa Yglesias.

Finally, the Dons scored two more runs in the fourth inning on another Gaucho error. This time Perez hit what appeared to be a sacrifice fly to centerfield. However, the ball was dropped allowing Paolena Comouche and Katelyn Harvey to score on the play.

On the mound, Esparza (5-0) kept Saddleback scoreless for four innings while spreading out five hits to pick up the win. She was relieved by Campoy who allowed just one hit over the final three innings to earn her third save of the season.